In The Kitchen

Shrimp blows traditional toppings out of the water Shrimp can be an asset to your pizzeria by manipulating your menu to accommodate the many seafood lovers in America. Granted, some traditionally inclined people may stick to that old and dry rule of never allowing seafood on a pizza, but those tired culinary fairy tales are… Read More ›

If you aren’t making these in-house, you really need to be Independent pizza places that sell “turn and burn” pizza are a dying breed. It’s actually easier to attempt to sell the best quality local pizza rather than fight in the trenches with the chains — competing with their insane deals that leave no room… Read More ›

It’ll All Pan Out Q: I’m beginning to put my business plan together for opening a pizzeria sometime next year and I have a question regarding which pans and screens you would recommend using. A: When it comes to pans you have options of steel or aluminum. My preference tends to lean more towards the… Read More ›

Looking to upgrade your menu in a meaningful way? Look no further. I think that every independent restaurateur is an artisan. Some of us stick to artistic traditionalism, while others veer off into new combinations, tastes and methods. While true food artisanship lies in the eyes of the beholder, balancing the realities of restaurant ownership… Read More ›

These modern ingredients bring versatility, sophistication to menus I work with a lot of unusual ingredients in the Pizza Today test kitchen –– from quail eggs we had to source off season from a tiny Asian market to ground lamb for meatballs. Today’s pizzeria owners recognize consumers’ ever-expanding palates, and that requires refreshing one’s menu… Read More ›

This original recipe was created by the late Pat Bruno Jr., a Pizza Today columnist for many years. We chose to recreate it in his honor for this special issue. It’s worth its weight on your menu and had our staff savoring every morsel. Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding Cake (Gianduia) Print Author: Pizza Today Recipe… Read More ›

For independent pizzerias, adding a new menu item should be a thoughtful decision For Jason McGovern, owner of Denver Deep Dish, a three-year-old pizzeria based in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood, putting the effort and investment into launching a new menu item comes down to a very simple question: Will it help us capture more customers? However,… Read More ›

They say that variety is the spice of life, and it is no different with pizza. While your customers may love your present offering, they might also be interested in something a little different from your mainstream pizza. It’s easy to change the toppings to make a different presentation, but it’s still just your regular… Read More ›

Quick Tips Newsletter

As it was first created in Italy, every pizza dough formula consists of flour, salt, yeast and water. Yet modern operators are finding ways to incorporate new flavors and styles into a very old technique. Thin-crust pizza still remains an American favorite, but the country’s many regions have brought to life their own styles. These are more than just pizza trends. Americans are fiercely loyal to their particular favorite pizza styles, from Deep Dish, Grandma and Old Forge to California, Detroit and New Haven. Everyone’s got a favorite –– and Pizza Today examines them all!

Today’s Restaurant Kitchens Feature More Than Traditional Toppings

Finding a point of differentiation is key when it comes to creating a menu. The pizza industry’s top ingredients include pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, green pepper and onion, and every pizzeria offers some version of these toppings. Today, however, the pizza makeline is ever changing and diners are just as likely to find roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, truffle oil and shrimp alongside their classic favorites. And the flavor doesn’t stop on top. Modern pizzaioli have found ways to implement flavor in their pizza dough formula as well. Ingredients like beer, spelt, whole wheat and molasses can give an operator a leg up on their competition and create a one-of-a-kind flavor profile that diners won’t find anywhere else.